Written by Matthew Cannata | Twitter: @PhinManiacsMike Pouncey was not present at Monday's practice but the reason is now known - it was because he was in New York visiting his doctors to seek medical clearance so he can return to full football activity.

Although the outcome of the visit isn't known at this time, sources have told the Sun-Sentinel that the appointment was very favorable and there's a chance that Pouncey could return to the practice field any day now. However, if the Dolphins don't feel comfortable with his return to the field, they can do two other things. The first is to put him on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which would keep him out of action until week 7. The Dolphins would be able to fill a roster spot for those seven weeks. The other option is to put Pouncey on injured reserve and designate him as a player who can return to the active roster. Each NFL team can do that with one player per season and they can return after six weeks.

"I'm just praying that they don't put me on PUP," Pouncey said last week. "I've been thinking I'm ahead of schedule, I feel really good. I just can't wait until they really just let me loose."

"I think it's up to coach and the team doctors when I'll be ready to practice," Pouncey said. "In my head right now I feel like I can because I'm a competitor, but they're just taking the safety route and making sure that it's all the way healed up and that I won't have any relapses once I come back."At this point, I think that the Dolphins will keep him off the PUP list and will target a return for him in either week three or four. Once he returns, the offensive line will of course drastically improve.